Featured Artist Frank Mayer

The mechanical art of Frank Mayer speaks one language—vintage horse power! He designs and creates every element that goes into his kinetic sculptures. Learn more about this artist and his creative process by visiting his website.

I specialize in industrial sculptural art and I am inspired by the late 19th and early 20th-century vintage engineering.

“Angus Shops 2” Tabletop Kinetic Art, Wood and Resin, 46” x 32” x 18”

In today’s era of electronicized (I invented the word), miniaturized, lightweight and sanitized designs, my art goes the opposite way! It’s heavy, clunky, bulky and old. In the same fashion, rust and verdigris are the new popular colors to me.

“Angus Shops 2” Detail

With the utmost respect for the engineers and factory workers of the past, I can only say this, “I don’t invent things, I merely rearrange them.” That being said, to me, there is elegance in vintage machinery, even when it’s hidden in a cast iron casing. Pop it open and you will see art right there in front of you.

My inspiration comes from looking at pictures of the old factories, the old bridges, the old sewing machines or the old 1890’s trains. The complexity and arrangement of systems are a curiosity and a fascination to me, and my art pays reverence to the great engineering of the past and its glory days.

I have a college degree in graphic design, and also trained in technical drafting. Back in 2014, after a twenty-year career in the aerospace industry as a technical illustrator, I decided to turn my life around and try to make a living as an artist doing a type of art that is very uncommon and innovative. In order to achieve this, I had to build a portfolio to show what I’m capable of accomplishing, and that’s what I’ve been doing since then. It took me nearly three years to come up with what I call a first stage (here I am!) portfolio and I worked a few thousand hours to get it where it is now. I want to offer future clients—collectors, designers, architects and art galleries—signed and numbered copies of each of my art pieces as limited editions.

“The Steam-A-Tron” Detail

Over the years, I gained a lot of experience in 3D modeling, silicone mold making, painting and machining on a CNC machine. It was only natural to do something special with that knowledge. (By the way, I own the CNC machine you see in some of the videos on my website and it takes quite a bit of space in my garage.)

My entire portfolio so far is the work of only one person—yours truly—from concept to 3D modeling to fabrication to finished product. Except for the hardware, motors and electronics, I design and fabricate every part from my little office in my basement and my home shop in my garage.

My canvas is a 3D modeling software. Following that step, I build all the parts myself using the CNC machine. I then make silicone molds of those parts which I later use to cast resin or super high density foam copies. A prototype is made for each composition using those parts along with re-purposed materials, metals, MDF wood, cement, motors and electronics.

Everything is hand painted using different faux finish techniques. What develops after blending those ingredients is a signed and numbered, limited edition, replica of the prototype and a piece of art that is truly unique and timeless.

I invite you to go take a look at my website to watch most of the kinetic art pieces in action. You will also see a few “making of” videos showing how I design and build the parts contained in my compositions.

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